Signal-lamp.



G. W. K003.

SIGNAL LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

' GEORGE W. KOOB, OF MONTROSE, COLORADO.

SIGNALLAMJP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, illllllfi.

Application filed l Iovember 7, 1914. Serial N 0. 870,837. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. K0013, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montrose, in the county of Montroseand State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal- Lamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and I useful improvements in signal lamps.

My invention has for its object the production of a signal lamp adapted to eliminate the dangers incident to color blindness by dispensing with the usual colored signals indicating Danger or Stop, and Clear and substituting means for showing a beam of light in different directions to indicate different signals, similar to the action of semaphore arms.

With this end in view my invention relates to the features of construction and operation hereinafter and in detail described;

In order that those familiar with the art to which my invention appertains may know how to make and operate my improved lamp and appreciate its advantages, ll will proceed to describe the same referring bynumerals to the accompanying drawing, in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line aa of Fig. 3.' Fig. 2 is a front elevation on decreased scale. Fig. 3 is a section on the line b-b of Fig. 2, and Fig. l. is a transverse section on theline 0c-of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

1 represents a suitable support for the lamp, 2 is the body of the lamp preferably of cylindrical form in cross section as shown and provided with a base. 3 adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the support 1 and with a closed back 4.

The front of the body is open and is formed with an annular exterior groove 5.

Adjacent to the front open end of the body 2 is an interior diametrically disposed U-shaped member 6 with its free'eolges forward, and its ends open.

Secured in the periphery of the body 2 in quartering relation to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, are the lense's7, these lenses being disposed so that the-open ends of the U-shaped members 6 may be brought into register therewith. These lenses may be made either of a bulls eye form or of flat glass as used in electric head lights or searchlights. An opaque closure or lamp front 8 is rotatably securedto the lamp by an inwardly extending annular flange or tongue 9 which is formed to engage with and traverse the annular groove 5 of the body 2. This closure 8 is formed with a diametrically extending opening 10 in which is secured a panel of glass. This panel is preferably of glass ofsuch character that too bright-a light will not be thrown out therefrom to thereby cause a blur or wide flash of light instead of a clear cut straight shaft of light when seen from a disltance and looking directly toward the pane At any desired distance in rear of the U- shaped member 6 is provided a vertical hollow standard 12 formed or provided at its upper extremity with a journal bearing 13 and open at its lower extremity and communicating with a conduit 14 in the support 1 as clearly shown at Fig. 4

15 is a hollow shaft rotatively mounted at its rear end in the bearing 13, fixed to the U-shaped member 6 as shown at 16, and secured at its front terminal in any suitable manner to the diametric glass 11. Within the U-shaped member 6 and diametrically disposed upon the hollow shaft 15 are two electric lamps 17, and 18 are electric wires connected with the lamps and passing through the hollow shaft 15, standard 12, and conduit 14. in the base to a source of electric energy.

19 is a belt around the rim of the closure 8 and connected with any suitable means for operating it, and 20 is a weight secured to the 'rotative closure which is adapted to return the'same to normal position as will be presently explained. The weight 20 is preferably'placed exteriorly to the belt 19. though, of course, attached to the face of the closure 8. This weight is placed slightly to the left or below the center so as not to come in front of the lens 7. By disposing the weight rearward of the face of the closure, the closure turns more easily and any outward pull on the closure is avoided, such as might occur if the weight projected from the face of the closure.

The outer section or end of the shaft 15 is secured to the rear section at 21 by an ordinary standard thread adapted to give only a quarter turn in order that the lamps may be turned from a perpendicular to a horizontal position as may be desired. It is necessary for the standard thread at 21 to have an abrupt end and not be taperingly out as threads generally are. The end of the thread thereby forms a stop to prevent the rotation of theclosure or front of the lamp beyond'a predetermined amount.

I will now describe the use or operation of the lamp, it being understood that when the light is shownhorizontally it will indicate danger or stop and when shown vertically it indicates clear.

The lamp being properly positioned for a signaling and the electrical current under the control of an operator in a tower, with the rays of light shown horizontally which signals danger or stop this being the normal condition and, if it is desired to signal clear the operator in the tower, through the medium of the belt 19, causes the closure device 8 to be rotated a quarter turn which rotates the shaft 15 and U- shaped member and consequently the glass panel, lamps 17 and U-shaped member 6 are brought into vertical position and the rays of lightare therefore projected in a vertical line indicating clear. Now if for any reason the signal danger or stop should be displayed, the operator releases the belt operating device and the weight 20 automatically reverses the rotatable parts and the danger and stop signal is displayed. While the rays of light are projected through the horizontally disposed glass panel, light is also transmitted through the lenses 7 on opposite sides of the body 2 producing substantially searchlights which may be seen at a great distance and on approaching the lamps serve to accentuate the light transmitted through the glass panel,- the parallel sides of the U-shaped member at such time shutting out any light through the lenses in the top and bottom of the body. When the light is displayed vertically the U-shaped member 6 in the same manner shuts off light 0 dthe lenses on the opposite sides of the It will, of course, be obvious that if it should be desired that the normal position of'the several parts should indicate a signal of clear the weight 20 should be so located as to automatically cause the glass panel, U-shaped member and lamps to assume vertical positions, in which case the danger or stop signal may be displayed by the operator in the tower in the manner described.

From the construction and operation shown and described, it will be apparent that an engineeer who may be afiiicted with color blindness, can make no mistake as to the signals presented to his view.

The lamp as a whole is exceedingly simple and economic of construction and operated with facility and expedition.

signal.

Many changes may be made in the mere details of construction and the means shown for operating the lamp without departing from the principle of my invention which embodies the broad feature of a lamp adapted to display rays of light in different planes as signals in lieu of the display of different colors.

My improved signal lamp is adapted to be used for many purposes and when I refer to the operator of the lamp as being located in a tower, I merely intend to refer to one of the uses of the lamp, that is, its use as a railway signal.

The lamp may be used on automobiles, at street crossings, and in many other situations when it is desired to display a signal indicating clear or danger, and the lamp front may be'rotated in many different ways.

It is also obvious that while I have shown a lamp lighted by electricity and have devised it with peculiar regard to the use of electricity as an illuminating medium, other forms of illuminating medium may be used and the lamp modified accordingly.

What I therefore claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A signal lamp provided with a rotative front having a single diametrically extendding transparent panel, the remainder of the front of the lamp being opaque, the side wall of the lamp extending at an angle to the front and being formed with oppositely disposed lenses disposed at the ends of said panel, a source of light behind the panel, and means for rotating the front of the lamp todirect the rays of light in difierent directions.

2. In a signal lamp such as described, a body having a front rotatively mounted thereon and provided with a single diametric panel of glass. a U-shaped member diametrically disposed in the forward end of the body of the lamp; a tubular standard in rear of the U-shaped member; a horizontal tubular shaft journaled in the standard and attached to the U-shaped member and connected at its outer extremity to the glass panel; electric lamps diametrically located on the tubular shaft between the back of the U-shaped' member and the glass panel; electric conducting wires extending from the lamps through the tubular shaft and the tubular standard 'to a source of electric energy, and means for rotating the front of the lamps, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a signal lamp such as described, and

comprising a body having at its forward end a diametric U-shaped member; a rotatable front mounted upon the open end of the body and provided with a single diametric panel of glass, and a source of light between the U-shaped member and the rotatable front, quadrantly disposed lenses in the body adapted to coincide with the open ends of the U-shaped member, when the front is rotated, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

a. A signal lamp such as described comprising a stationary body having a rotatable front provided with a single diametric panel of glass, and a source of light back of the glass panel, means for rotating the front in one direction, and a weight secured upon the rotatable front and acting to return the front to normal position; as hereinbefore set forth,

5. A signal lamp including a transparent panel, said panel being rotatable into a hori- Zontal or a vertical plane, a lamp behind the panel, and means for projecting beams of light radially outward from the axis of rotation of the lamp in accordance with the position of the panel.

6. A signal lamp including means for projecting a single relatively long and relatively narrow band of light, and means for rotating said band from one predetermined position to another.

7. A signal lamp including means for projecting a single relativelylong and rela tively narrow band of light, means for rotating said band from one predetermined position to another, and means for projecting rays of light radially relatively to the axis of rotation of the band and in alinement with the longest dimension of the band, said rays thereby substantially forming lateral continuations of the band.

8. A signal lamp including means for projecting a single relatively long and relatively narrow band of light, means for rotating said band from one predetermined position to another, and means for projecting rays of light radially relative to the axis of rotation of the band and in alinement with the longest dimension of the band when the band is in one or the other of its predetermined positions whereby said rays shall form substantially lateral continuations of said band.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WV. KOOB. lVitnesses J N0. D. RoBUoK, ANNA M. JOHNSTON. 

